Smart meters vulnerable to false data injection

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

Power grids connect electricity producers to consumers through interconnected transmission and distribution networks. In these networks, system monitoring is necessary to ensure reliable power grid operation.

The analysis of smart meter measurements and power system models that estimate the state of the power grid are a routine part of system monitoring.

False data injection attacks exploit the configuration of power grids by introducing arbitrary errors into state variables while bypassing existing techniques for bad measurement detection.

nCircle announced the results of a survey of 104 energy security professionals. When asked, “Do smart meter installations have sufficient security controls to protect against false data injection?” 61% said “no”.

Full story available at: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=12717

Posted in Hacking, Security Risks, Smart grid, Smart Meter | Leave a comment

Pensioner takes stance against meters – The Warrnambool Standard

Posted on May 22, 2012 by

By PETER COLLINS 18 May, 2012

PENSIONER Pam Densley is risking being penalised for her continued defiant refusal to have a smart meter fitted to her household electricity supply, despite a new top-level report saying they are safe.

The Warrnambool war widow has had notes stuck around her meter box for months highlighting her concerns and has chased installers off her property.

She’s written to her home insurance company and even considered locking the meter box.

“I shouldn’t have to have one,” she told The Standard.

“I don’t want one until they are proven safe. A lot of concerns have been raised.”

According to electricity distributor Powercor, rollout of the new technology must be completed by the end of next year for all homes and businesses.

Any property owners refusing installation risk having their power supply cut off.

Powercor spokesman Hugo Armstrong said people were required by law to give the distributor safe and clear access to meters.

“We will always try to work with customers to resolve their issues,” he said.

“They can contact us on 1300 783 882.”

He said smart meters had been fitted at two-thirds of Warrnambool region properties and installers were back in the district to finish the program.

Health concerns were dismissed yesterday by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) which released its draft report on advanced metering infrastructure (smart meters).

It said the new meters posed no more risk than older electronic or electromechanical meters.

Energy Safe director Paul Fearon said much community debate on the meters was not based on facts or evidence and had alarmed the elderly and vulnerable.

However, the Electrical Trades Union later issued a statement urging consumers to read the report with “extreme caution”.

“This draft report in no way removes the need for continued scrutiny of the safety of the smart meter roll out and the rush to find that all is well in the face of contradictory evidence casts grave doubt on its credibility,” ETU Victorian branch secretary, Dean Mighell, said.

Read the rest via Pensioner takes stance against meters – Local News – News – General – The Warrnambool Standard.

Posted in Dean Mighell, ETU, Smart Meter | Tagged , | 9 Comments

ill with migraines and fever like symptoms

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

Comment: A smart meter was installed in the rented home I live in Daylesford, Central Victoria – and over the last week I have been very ill with migraines and fever like symptoms. I believe that the smart meter is spiking radiation, I rang Powercor who gave me the usual line that it is a mandatory installation. I have tried to shield the smart meter – which is on the wall of the kitchen, a room I am in a great deal – with aluminium mesh and aluminium sheeting on the wall in the kitchen, to no effect. Do you know a retailer who will sell me an analogue electricity meter and a sympathetic electrician who could install it for me. I live with my teenage children and am not able to do this myself. I am desperate – all help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Posted in Smart Meter | 10 Comments

New group forming in Bairnsdale

Posted on May 20, 2012 by

East Gippsland Information Hub. Attached to Stop Smart Meters Australia, there is now a group forming in Bairnsdale. If you are in the East Gippsland region, come to Treasures of Atlantis to pick up free Do Not Fit A Smart Meter sign, information packs, letters of refusal and more.

Details of the upcoming meeting can be found at the store Treasures of Atlantis 1/25 Wood St Bairnsdale Vic, Ph: 03-51523485 or on this site soon.

DO NOT risk your health

DO NOT risk your home insurance

DO NOT accept being bullied

DO NOT accept being held to ransom by an overseas company

STOP SMART METERS AUSTRALIA

Posted in Smart Meter | Leave a comment

Northcote fire questions safety of smart meters – Emergency Services

Posted on May 19, 2012 by

A FAMILY’S narrow escape from a Northcote house fire prompted a Darebin officer to raise concerns about smart meter installation.

Christmas St resident Sophie Tzirozidis hailed her 12-year-old son a hero after he ran to the front of their house, stopped traffic and alerted neighbours to help evacuate his grandfather, Peter, and grandmother, Vicki, before they were overcome with smoke.

“If Peter hadn’t have come running out screaming for help my parents would have died from smoke inhalation because my father’s had a stroke and he can’t walk and my mother couldn’t move because she was in shock,” Ms Tzirozidis said.

“The fire started from the smart meter and the flames spread straight up to the roof.

“There’s nothing smart about smart meters – they’re terrible.”

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade estimated the damage at $300,000.

One brigade officer, who refused to be named because he was opening “a political can of worms”, said this was the third serious fire in Northcote he’d attended in the past six months that started at the smart meter.

He said the power companies were involved in “a massive cover-up” denying responsibility.

“The problem is not with the meter itself but with connecting it to wiring in older houses,” the officer said.

“Unless something’s done (to fix the problem), unfortunately we’ll see a lot more of these fires and we just have to hope no one will get hurt.”

The MFB officer said he’d repeatedly watched power company authorities visiting the houses after the fires and claiming sabotage or other factors were involved to take the heat off them.

Read the rest via Northcote fire questions safety of smart meters – Emergency Services – News – Northcote Leader.

HOW MANY STORIES LIKE THIS ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

Posted in Fire, House Fires, Smart Meter | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Stop Smart Meters Australia mentioned in the ESV report

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

Yesterday Energy Safe Victoria issued a press release about the completion of its draft report  into the safety of Victoria’s smart meters stating: “….ESV believes it is important that the public receives informed and independent information so they can continue to have confidence that smart meters are safe.”

The Herald Sun adds: “Fears over health risks supposedly linked with smart meters have seen people move out of their homes and others coat their houses in electromagnetic shielding paint amid claims of heart palpitations and other ailments.”

We are having quite an impact. In-fact we are mentioned twice in the report and recognised as a key stakeholder: 

1.3 Nature of issues raised
While most of the recent incidents now appear to be the result of criminal damage, ESV believes it is important to answer the additional questions that have emerged in relation to the safety of smart meters.

Most of the issues raised have been put forward by the Victorian Branch of the Electrical
Trades Union (ETU) and Stop Smart Meters Australia, who have questioned the safety of  smart meters. The media has reported the concerns raised by these key stakeholders, resulting in a great deal of largely misplaced community concern.

A summary of the key issues and assertions raised include:
• There has been a massive increase in meter failures since the smart meters were rolled
out.
• Smart meters cause fires and explosions.
• All smart meters that are affected by a HV injection on a circuit need to be replaced to
ensure safety.
• Smart meters need to be installed on non-flammable backing board to ensure safety.
• Smart meters are being installed on deteriorated backing boards.
• Energy companies have not followed appropriate procedures for testing of smart meters
following a HV injection.
• The smart meters that are being installed are poor quality and unsafe.
• Smart meters are emitting a coloured liquid that is unsafe.
• Smart meters emit high levels of electromagnetic radiation and cause health issues.

ESV is releasing this draft report to provide an opportunity for public comment to ensure that it addresses the key issues of concern to the community about smart meters.

ESV welcomes any comments or further information in response to this report. Submissions should be forwarded to info@esv.vic.gov.au by 15 June 2012.

After assessing any comments and further information received, ESV proposes to release a final report on the safety of the smart meter component of the AMI rollout in June/July 2012.

http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/Consumers/Files/Safety%20of%20advanced%20metering%20infrastructure%20in%20Victoria%20%20170512.pdf

We encourage you to make submissions and contribute to the final report.  The draft report did not adequately deal with all of the key issues of concern.  

KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK PEOPLE!

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What angles might be taken to install a smart meter?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

Comment: I contact you with critical information which I believe should be posted on your website to make customers more informed about what angles might be taken to install a smart meter.

Recently, one of my neighbours informed me that she had received letters from Sp-Ausnet in regards to her country properties in rural Victoria, informing her that the safest option for the distribution of electricity to her property would be to convert to underground power cables, and turn off the existing overhead connection, reluctantly as she did not feel the need for it, she agreed, and scheduled an appointment with Sp-Ausnet to come out to 3 of her properties to change connections, so she thought.

She later noticed that whilst a few workmen worked on digging up her land and installing the new underground cables and cutting the existing ones, two of the men had gone around and installed smart meters at the same time that the others were working without her knowing.

She was furious, as at no point had she been informed that they also had intentions to install a new smart meter at the premesis at the same time.
Sp-Ausnet stated that it is a regular occourance when they changeover any supply connections also.

She then had to pay $230 per property to have the connection changed, and any additional cost that may be incurred due to having a smart meter installed with it’s inaccuracies.
—
I believe that this information is important for consumers as many may be against smart meters, although if they are invitied to install underground cables for safety in bushfire zones, may not also know that it means installing a new smart meter.

In conclusion —
Don’t allow them to do anything!
Do not allow access to your property! (Unless they state there is an imediate hazard, there is no reason for them to enter)
Do not agree to change anything, connections, meters ect. As changing one, generally means changing another for their own personal benefit!

Posted in Smart Meter | 1 Comment